“Yes,” Niko said. “It scares the crap out of me, but I want this. Want both of you.”
With a little smile, Roc took his moment to kiss them both. “What he said.”
Vidar studied each of their faces for seconds that felt like hours, and Roc wondered if he was about to have something else ripped away from him. Then, Vi opened his mouth and said, “I’m in.”
Mabel’s Cafe and Coffee Shop was slammed with the lunch rush. Which was typical on any given day of the week, but being Friday it was especially busy. Vidar looked around for the table Dagen had said they’d reserved and spotted his brother, along with Ollie and Luca, back near the door to the kitchen. With Niko’s hand gripped firmly in his, he moved that way, maneuvering past the other patrons and tables.
“Hey, guys, glad you made it!” Ollie said as they got close, but Vidar’s eyes were on Dagen. It only took his brother a moment to glance up from his meal, spot Vidar’s hand clasped with Niko’s, bounce his gaze to Roc right behind them, and finally lift widened, hazel eyes to his face. Vidar couldn’t contain his little smirk, but his brother seemed to read him well enough and narrowed his eyes.
“Vi,” Dagen said with a little tilt of his head. “Something to share?”
“Nope.” He settled into a chair, Roc and Niko taking the ones on either side of him, and stretched his arms across the back of both. Luca was smiling to himself from his place across from Niko. Niko for his part was behaving just like he always did.
“You ordered without me!” Niko said to Luca with a pout before reaching over and stealing a fry. Well, attempting to steal because Luca rapped him right on the knuckle with his fork and Niko jerked his hand back with a little squeak.
“Ow! Jerk! Did you at least ask about the soups of the day?”
Luca rolled his eyes. “Chicken Tortilla and Cream of Mushroom.”
“Yes!” Niko pumped his fist in the air. “My favorite!”
“Which one?” Rocco asked, leaning forward so he could see Niko.
“Mushroom. They make it from scratch and it’s aaaamazing!”
Vidar sighed.
Roc looked at him. “You can’t regret us yet.”
“Yeah,” Niko piped up. “You’ve got to at least buy us lunch first.”
Dagen, Ollie, and Luca were looking at the three of them like they’d lost their minds.
“We’re dating. The three of us. It’s a thing,” Niko said, leaning closer to Vidar’s side, making him sigh again. “Oh my gosh, would you stop that.”
Roc started to laugh, and Vi was ready to tell them the whole thing was off when his mom stepped up to their table with a man he’d never seen before.
“Hey, boys,” Stella said, eyeing him warily. “Thanks for texting me Ollie, this is a nice treat to end the week.” She and her guest sat down at the only two seats left at the table. “Um, this is my friend, Edmund. Edmund, these two”—she pointed at him and his brother—“are my sons, Vidar and Dagen. And this is Dagen’s boyfriend, Ollie. This is Luca. And this is Rocco and Niko.” She looked at Vidar and he sat up straighter, reaching over to offer his hand to Edmund.
“My partners,” he said when the man accepted his handshake.
Edmund didn’t even blink. “It’s wonderful to meet you all.”
Stella tilted her head at him exactly as Dagen had. He looked back at her, gaze steady. She smiled at him and a sense of rightness settled in his chest.
Later, after Niko had eaten two bowls of mushroom soup, stolen half his fries, and most of Roc’s coffee cake, they all bundled back into their jackets and headed out to the parking lot.
“We’re going to need one of those industrial size refrigerators,” Roc said as they stepped out into the chilly afternoon air. “I mean, honestly, where does he put all that food?” Niko was trailing behind, talking with Luca. Vidar stopped and turned to look at Roc.
“We’re going to need an industrial fridge?”
Roc smirked. “Caught that, did you?” He slipped his hand into Vidar’s. “Well, it’s true. He’s got a hollow leg. It’s the only explanation.”
“It’s good to see him eat as much as he wants.”
Roc, who never missed a thing, caught there was an underlying meaning to those words and turned to look at Vi. “Yeah?”
Vidar thought about Niko starving himself in an effort to save enough money to find his brother. If Vidar had anything to say about it, Niko would never go hungry again. “Yeah. Now, round up our hollow-legged boyfriend, would you?” Man, but it was weird and intensely satisfying to say that. “I need to talk to Mom for a minute.”
Lots of hugs were passed around as they all said goodbye. Dagen gave him a look that he knew meant he’d be in the hot seat for twenty questions later, and if he knew Dagen, the first thing his baby brother was going to do was call Magnus and Harbor. Oh well. Better to get it all over with at once, he supposed.
He walked over to where his mom had stopped beside the passenger door of a car he didn’t know, but maybe vaguely remembered seeing it in his mom’s driveway a time or two. He’d always assumed it was one of her lady friends. Edmund was already seated inside with the engine running, undoubtedly letting the interior warm up and giving them a moment of privacy.
“So,” he said, standing in front of her. “You have a boyfriend.”
“And you have two,” she fired back, hazel eyes sparkling and a smile on her face.
He nodded. “It’s brand new, but yes, I guess I do.”
“Ha! Sure it is honey.” She patted his arm.
“Mom…”
“I know, I know. I’m happy for you, sweetheart.” She reached up and took his face in her hands. He closed his eyes for a moment, leaning into the comfort that always came with her touch. “You deserve every ounce of love they have to give you. You have such a big heart, my Vidar. I have no doubt that you’re more than capable of loving them both with the same fierceness as you do everything else.”
“Thanks, Mom.” He let out a breath and cut his eyes toward the car. “He treats you right?”
She smiled. “He does. It’s fairly new too, but we’ve been friends for a while.”
“You’ll let me know if—”
She cut him off. “I will, but you know I can hold my own.”
He huffed a laugh. “Yes, I do.”
“Good. I expect all three of you for dinner on Sunday.”
“We’ll be there, Mom.”
Chapter Twelve
Viridian was hopping. With February’s temperatures moving from frigid to mild, people were itching for Spring and it showed in the increase in patrons, especially on the weekends. Niko was up on one of the small platform stages in viridian green boyshorts, a black harness with all the straps converging on a large metal ring in the middle of his chest, and black combat boots. It was one of his favorite outfits, for comfort and for tips, especially later when he’d lose the boyshorts for a neon green jock.
A flush of heat went through him when he thought about being up on this stage tonight in nothing but a jock and harness with Vidar and Rocco’s eyes on him. His men were coming in later and bringing a special guest with them. Niko was prepared to hear a tirade about it from Luca, but the cover was perfect. Rocco had closed that missing girl case that Clark sent him on, after all. Plus, it would be good for all of them to catch up.
Niko could see Luca moving behind the bar, re-stocking beer as fast as the bartenders pulled it and hauling big buckets of ice from the back. He’d asked Luca once if he ever thought about taking the step up from barback to bartender, but Luca said he was happy where he was. Niko thought his brother was adjusting extremely well after having been taken off the street by a motorcycle gang. Luca still wouldn’t talk to him about everything that he’d been through, but he knew those Crossmen assholes had made his brother mule drugs and god knew what else. His anxiety seemed best controlled when he was either training or had some set task to occupy himself that didn’t require him to speak to a bunch of people.
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br /> Several loud wolf-whistles sounded at the base of his platform, and Niko looked down to find a group of frat boys leering up at him. He pasted on his best come hither smile and shook his ass with a little more enthusiasm in their direction. Trying to toe the line between engaging too much with horny drunks while holding their interest just enough to make his money was an art he was still perfecting. More than once, one of the security team had to remove someone that was trying to climb up onto his platform, or that tried to grab him as he got down.
He was feeling particularly flirtatious that night...but the dudes with their snapbacks were not doing it for him. Not when he had two lucious men to call his own walking in the door. He saw Rocco first, so sexy with his dark hair styled perfectly and the lightest dusting of stubble on his jaw. His lean legs looked forever long in black jeans, and the deep maroon henley molding to his broad shoulders looked perfect next to his olive skin. Niko was sure Vidar would be right behind him.
“Hey, Evan,” Niko called to the head of security who was stationed against the wall a few feet from his platform.
Evan lifted his head, then nodded, coming up to the back side of the platform to help Niko down. Another of the dancers, a cute blond twink named Cody, trotted over, ready to take Niko’s place. Once Niko had his feet on the floor, he shot Evan a smile. “Thanks. I’m going to take a break.”
“Come on, I’ll walk you back,” Evan said, stepping up beside him.
“We’d be happy to take that job off your hands, man,” one of the college guys said, making his buddies laugh.
“Gentlemen, you know the rules. Hands off the dancers.” Evan’s voice brokered no argument. Niko wasn’t sure why anyone would want to argue with him anyway, the man was built like a linebacker and watched everything with sharp, hawk-like eyes. Niko was glad Evan was on his side.
“We can walk him over, Evan.” Vidar’s voice brushed across his skin like a caress. Niko turned, smile already on his face. Vi looked devastatingly handsome—and menacing—in a deep blue shirt that showed every ridge of muscle in his arms and shoulders and his long-on-top hair styled back. Rocco was standing beside him, dark eyes trained on the guys that had been mouthing off.
Evan nodded. “Nice to see you, Mr. Rourke. Mr. Zanetti.” Then he turned to resume his post, motioning at the onlookers that the show was over.
Racing forward, Niko jumped, landing squarely in Roc’s arms and wrapping his legs around his waist. “Miss me?” he asked before kissing Roc soundly. He heard the whistles and cat-calls, then Vidar’s chest pressed against his back, securely locking him between his men.
Warm lips kissed his neck, then nipped at his ear. “You’re just trying to rile them up, aren’t you?”
Pulling back from Roc’s talented mouth, Niko laughed. “He’s just so damn sexy tonight, how was I supposed to resist?” He turned his face so he could see Vidar’s eyes. “Both of you are.”
Vidar pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “Let’s at least go make a ruckus up by the bar instead of out here on the floor.”
“Deal!” Niko hopped down and happily let himself be escorted to the end of the bar where there were stools reserved for special guests. Rory was already occupying one of them, and Niko was happy to note, Clark was seated beside him. Scanning down the line, he saw Luca placing bottles in one of the lower back-up coolers. When he emptied the box, he stood and turned toward them, eyes going wide when they landed on Clark.
“Hey, bro,” Niko called, hopping up on the empty stool beside Clark. “Can I get a water?”
With a nod, Luca grabbed a bottle of water and brought it over, placing it in front of Niko.
“Thanks. Did you need anything?” Niko asked, turning to look at Clark. There was no drink in front of him yet.
“Yeah,” Clark said, looking from Niko to Luca. “I’ll have the draft special, please.”
Luca licked his lips and dropped his eyes. “I’ll let the bartender know.” He shot an irritated look at Niko before turning around and hurrying to the other end of the bar.
Big hands slid under Niko’s thighs and lifted him, moving him from the stool he’d been sitting on to the one beside it.
“Hey!” Niko protested, twisting his head around to give Vi his best glare. Rocco took the stool he’d just been forcibly removed from and shot him a wink before turning his head to talk to Clark. Spinning on his new and unwanted stool, Niko turned to face Vidar, spreading his thighs enough for Vi to step between them. Which he did, getting right up in Niko’s space, crowding him back against the bar and caging him in with his arms.
“Oh,” Niko said when Vi leaned in and kissed below his ear again.
“Stop harassing your brother and innocent bystanders,” Vi whispered low, warm breath tickling his sensitive skin and sending a shiver through him. He needed to get a handle on this situation right now or he was going to have to go back to dancing with a hard-on.
“I’m the one being harassed,” Niko muttered, sliding his hands up under the front of Vi’s shirt to run his nails over the hard ridges of his abs.
Vidar looked down at where his hands had disappeared, then back up to cock an eyebrow at him.
“What? I can’t exactly manhandle you so I’ve got to get my licks where I can get them.”
Vidar smirked. “I don’t think you have any problems manhandling either one of us.”
“What’s this I hear, someone need manhandling?” Harbor stepped up beside his brother, a rosy flush on his cheeks. Theo, Harbor’s boyfriend, was draped over Harbor’s back with his chin resting on his shoulder.
“I don’t know if I’m down for that action, babe. The big one’s your brother, and the little one your brother would break your fingers for even trying to touch. And I like your fingers.”
Niko started to chuckle. “Hi, guys, I didn’t even see you come in.”
“We were in the back talking to Magnus,” Harbor said. “He gave us the good beer.”
“I can see that.” Vidar pulled the bottle out of Harbor’s hand and took a long pull. “Is Magnus still back there?”
“Rude, Vi. That was rude. But yes, Magnus is doing the boring paperwork in his office.”
Vi turned back to Niko and pressed a quick kiss to his mouth, then laid one hand on Roc’s shoulder and set the bottle he’d taken from Harbor on the bar. “Hey, babe, I need to go talk to Magnus. You got this one?” He nudged his head at Niko.
Niko rolled his eyes while Roc and Vi shared a kiss of their own, but he was secretly pleased. It was nice to be looked after.
After stealing Harbor away from Theo and wading into the sea of gyrating bodies to pull Dagen away from Ollie, Vidar ushered them all back to Magnus’s office. Maybe it was strange wanting to talk about this now, but being with Roc and Niko felt like turning over a new leaf, and there was something he wanted to get off his chest.
Magnus moved his head from behind his computer monitor when Vi pushed his office door open, and sitting on the end of his nose was the cutest little pair of reading glasses. Vidar didn’t even know Magnus wore glasses.
“Don’t you knock!” Magnus protested, pulling the glasses off his face while Harbor howled with laughter.
“Oh god, Mags, I’m having high school English flashbacks. Remember that teacher who always wore her glasses right on the tip of her nose? Wicked impression bro.” Harbor pushed past Vidar and flopped onto the couch.
Dagen stepped in behind them, flushed and sweaty from the dance floor and took a seat beside Harbor. “I think the glasses are cute, Mags.”
“Thank you, Dagen,” Magnus said, looking from Harbor’s still shaking shoulders to Vidar. “I just sent his drunk ass out of here, Vi. Why’d you bring him back?”
Vidar took a deep breath. “Because I need to talk to you all about something.”
“Dude,” Harbor piped up. “I think we figured out you’re banging Roc and Niko. Congrats, by the way.”
Vi grit his teeth. “I’m not banging them. I’m dating them.” He shot an
exasperated look at Magnus. “You gave him that beer.”
“I know, I know.” Magnus came around his desk and leaned back against the edge of it.
“Oh shit, big brother’s in love! Welcome to the club man.” There was still a slur in Harbor’s voice, but a genuine thread of happiness wove through his words.
Vidar looked around the room at each of them. Magnus, in his sharp looking suit pants and vest, so smart and so much lighter than when he’d first come back to them. Harbor may be slouched on the couch, content, but he was a fighter. Just like Vidar, and Vi knew that fire constantly burned through Harbor’s veins. Dagen held his eyes the longest. Hazel, just like their mom and Magnus’s. He was the rock of this family. A job his baby brother’s shoulders were more than strong enough to bear.
He’d always been a decisive person—making a plan, seeing it through—and for so long that plan hadn’t changed. Watch out for his brothers. Take care of their mom. It had led him to do things he wasn’t proud of sometimes, but it had also led to a business where two of his brothers could thrive. That could support them all if need be. It had brought Ollie and Theo into their lives, and kept Rory close. It had brought him Niko which had led him back to Rocco. Those were things he could be proud of.
“Maybe I am,” he finally said, thinking of Niko’s mischievous smile and Roc’s dark eyes, and watched his brother’s sit up straighter. “But that’s not what I wanted to tell you. I wanted to apologize.”
“Apologize for what, Vi?” Dagen sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
“For the way our father left. For being the reason he abandoned us when he did. I’m guessing it would have happened sooner or later, considering, but I am sorry that I had a hand in making life so damn difficult for those first few years after Mom left him.”
“Vi,” Dagen said, like he was choosing his words carefully. “What exactly happened? I mean, I know he hurt you and I’m damn sure you have nothing to apologize about, but I barely remember that day.”
Open Wounds: The Boxed Set Page 43
